LEWISTON- Maine Attorney General Steve Rowe encouraged future investments in Maine children in his keynote address at the Tri-County Mental Health Services Annual Meeting on October 17. In his presentation, "Early Child Care," Rowe stated that, "high-quality early care and education is one of the very best economic investments we can make." Attorney General Steve Rowe has been Maine's Attorney General since 2001. As Attorney General, Steve Rowe has emphasized issues related to children and families, health care and prescription drugs, civil rights education and enforcement, consumer protection, domestic violence and elder abuse.

Musician Scott Perry of Turner provided musical entertainment for the evening with his powerful voice and story through, "Don't Laugh at Me." Perry has been playing music for more than 25 years, professionally for the past ten. He is also a consumer of services, and openly shares his story to help others to find hope.

In other business, Tri-County Mental Health Services elected the following officers to its Board of Directors:

President

Dan Moreno

1st Vice President

N. Paul Gauvreau

2nd Vice President

Deborah Simpson

3rd Vice President

William Britting

Secretary

Roberta Lane

Treasurer

Mike Williams

Board Clerk is Tri-County Executive Director, Chris Copeland, and other board members include: Patricia Burke, Christopher DeMerchant, Craig Gunderson, Ronald Jean, Jolene Lovejoy and Martha Meeks. Copeland honored outgoing Board President, Chris DeMerchant, for 3 years of consistent passion and dedication to the agency and to the field of mental healthcare. Copeland also recognized the Tri-County employees celebrating 10, 15 and 20 years of loyalty to the agency, and presented the Inspiration and Giving Voice Awards.
Tri-County Mental Health Services is Maine's most comprehensive agency dealing with the psychological and social well-being of children, adults, and elders. TCMHS serves over 7,000 individuals each year with innovative programs and services addressing mental health, substance abuse, mental retardation/developmental disabilities, autism, and more. Its philosophy of building toward recovery and sensitivity to traumatic experiences of consumers gives hope to individuals, families, and communities in Androscoggin, Cumberland, Franklin and Oxford counties. For information, visit www.tcmhs.org.